Leadership

The PEPY Empowering Youth team believes that successful and sustainable programs can only happen when local leadership is the driving force behind program development. All of the PEPY Empowering Youth management team and Board of Directors are based in Cambodia, which means decisions are made on the ground, with Cambodian leadership driving program development.

PEPY Empowering Youth staff are provided with on-the-job skills training and are offered scholarship funding to allow them to pursue higher-level education. Currently our team is comprised of eight Cambodians, one international employee, and several skilled volunteers from across the world. If you are interested in joining the PEPY Empowering Youth team, take a look at our current opportunities.

Awatd has been a board member at PEPY Empowering Youth 2013 now. She studied English at Pannasatra university of Cambodia and ended up with a bachelor’s degree of TESOL. She is currently working as a Consultant for Cambodia Living Arts Organization and provides training for young artists and scholarship students. She was also an education community development volunteer with Youth Star Cambodian Organization for twelve months in Prey Veng province.

Colm Byrne
(Vice Chair)

Colm first became involved with PEPY when he became involved in the PEPY Ride in 2013. Since then the school at which he taught for ten years in Ireland (DPETNS) has established an educational partnership with PEPY. This partnership seeks to enhance the quality of education in both organizations. Colm was PEPY’s Capacity Builder from July 2014 to April 2015. He currently lives and teaches in Siem Reap. Colm joined the board in September 2015.

Sopheap Doung (Treasurer)

Sopheap hails from Kralanh – PEPY Empowering Youth’s target area. She has been Human Resource Manager at Amansara – an exclusive 5* hotel in Siem Reap – since 2012. Prior to that, she was the Human Resource Manager at the Tara Angkor Hotel in Siem Reap, and for 3 years was also Accounts and Administration officer for the Wildlife Conservation Society in Siem Reap.

Ravy Vang

Van Ravy is one of 7 board members at PEPY Empowering Youth. He has a Major in General Management and graduated from a bachelor of business administration at the University Of South East Asia (USEA). He is currently the director and project manager at Salariin Kampuchea Organization with duties such as financial management, fundraising and communications and more. He also has experience working as a sales assistant and life insurance advisor.

Samal Khath

Mr. Samal is currently the Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Education Youth and Sports in Ratanakiri Province. He was the Senior Program Manager at PEPY Empowering Youth back in 2012. ‭His contribution to PEPY includes program management, documentation, establishing and improving relationships with local authority and government, workflow standardisation, leadership and understanding legal processes. Mr. Samal has a big heart for the PEPY team. He always visits PEPY whenever he is in Siem Reap. He has a good network both within government and NGO offices. He is also very knowledgeable about program development, an experience which he acquired from years of work with Care International.

Phoungmaly Nhean

Maly has been working with non-profit-sector for more than 10 years operations, senior management and leadership positions. Currently she is founder and Executive Director of Rachna Satrei (translation: women empowerment) and coordinator of Coordination Non-government Organization Network – Siem Reap’s largest membership organization. The network has 148 members and promotes good governance and democracy for civil society. Maly holds a masters in General Management and Accounting.

Bunthann Kim

Kim was born and grew up in Kralanh district – PEPY’s target area. He has a BA and MBA in Management and is currently branch manager for Ming Wuoy Group at “Pedro” in Siem Reap. Kim is also Co-Founder of the Cycling Community Club in Siem Reap – a group of like-minded individuals who run challenge bike rides to raise funds for social change projects. He is passionate about supporting rural young people and their communities and making a difference in their future.

Sarah Brown

Sarah has lived in Cambodia since 2011 when she joined PEPY Tours, a Siem Reap based social enterprise specialising in educational travel. With a background in education and a passion for exploring, designing and facilitating learning adventures was a natural fit for Sarah, who has now been working in educational travel for over 5 years. While living in Cambodia Sarah became acutely aware of the importance of ethical, responsible travel, and as such was a founding member the Learning Service movement, contributing to PDF and video guides. Sarah also appeared in The Voluntourist documentary, contributed to Adventures Less Ordinary, and continues to facilitate trainings on development education. In 2014 Sarah co-founded Ayana Journeys, where she gets to spend her days designing experiential adventures for visitors to Cambodia.